Fresh News

It’s our mission to involve, educate and unite people in the work of ending hunger. Fresh News keeps you up-to-date on the latest MANNA events and benefits and provides updates and stories highlighting the impact of our current programs and food distribution. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter here.

It’s that time of year again: Food lovers, artisan craft collectors, and those united in eradicating hunger come together for our annual Empty Bowls events, MANNA’s anchor event for September, which is Hunger Action Month across the nation. This year marks the 14th year of this wonderful fundraiser, and as in years past, it will be two separate… Read more »

For 31 years, MANNA FoodBank has been rescuing food from being thrown away and has gotten it into the homes of people in need. Today there are more than 107,000 people in Western North Carolina who without our help might otherwise go hungry. As MANNA has grown to meet the need in our region, we… Read more »

This year’s ball was held on Saturday, June 6th, and our theme was Bowl Full of Soul. The ball was held outside MANNA’s warehouses, along the banks of the Swannanoa River. Ticket holders enjoyed small tasting plates from over twenty of Asheville’s finest restaurants including Biltmore, Chestnut, Cantina at Biltmore Village, Lobster Trap, Red Stag Grill,… Read more »

MANNA FoodBank received a $25,000 grant from Morgan Stanley to help fund the MANNA Pack Program, a child hunger initiative that helps to ensure students receive nutritious food during school breaks. Over the past three years, food banks like MANNA have received more than $4 million from Morgan Stanley to help launch, expand and sustain critical childhood feeding… Read more »

The Blue Jean Ball is set to have a fabulous 10 piece band to provide some soulful entertainment on June 6th. A powerhouse group named the Bread & Jam All Stars with Sirens of Soul has been assembled with band members such as Lyric, Jason DeCristofaro, Indigo De Souza, Marcel Anton, Josh Blake, River Gueguerian,… Read more »

Charity Navigator is the nation’s largest and most utilized evaluator of charities. It works to guide intelligent giving by rating charities across the country and uses a four star scale that evaluates an organization’s financials, accountability, and transparency. MANNA FoodBank has received a four out of four star rating from Charity Navigator for the past 5 years. … Read more »

After careful planning and much anticipation, our Chief Development Officer, Donna Ensley, has accepted the challenge of creating a Legacy Gifts program for MANNA to ensure our continued work towards a hunger-free Western North Carolina. Donna will bring The Space to Erase Hunger capital campaign to a successful completion by the end of August and… Read more »

With the Space to Erase Hunger campaign in full swing, David Holt and Brad Searson sit down for an interview with David Hurand of WCQS to discuss the project. Our campaign chairs eloquently discuss the goals of the project, and why the expansion is of such importance! This eight minute interview is certainly worth a listen. Listen to the… Read more »

Purchase your ticket HERE for the 16th annual Blue Jean Ball! This year’s Blue Jean Ball will take place on Saturday, June 6th with the theme “Bowl Full of Soul.” Join us for a delightful evening of music, dancing, food, and fun! Entertainment will include the soulful sounds of the Bread & Jam All-Stars with the Sirens of Soul. Guests… Read more »

Saturday, May 9th marks the 23rd anniversary of one of America’s great days of giving, the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. As letter carriers deliver mail throughout our communities, they encounter our neighbors facing hunger in a way that few people do. As a response to this nationwide problem,… Read more »